Population in largest city in Norway
Norway: Population in largest city was 1.12 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1.12 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
123rd
of 153 countries
All-time high
1.12 million
in 2025
All-time low
578,044
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Norway, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in Norway is 1.12 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Norway peaked at 1.12 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 578,044, in 1960.
That places Norway 123rd out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population in largest city in Norway, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 578,044 | — |
| 1961 | 585,230 | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 591,398 | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 597,630 | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 603,937 | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 610,293 | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 616,725 | +1.1% |
| 1967 | 623,224 | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 629,802 | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 636,430 | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 643,137 | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 645,250 | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 645,003 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 644,757 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | 644,511 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 644,265 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 644,019 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 643,774 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 643,528 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 643,282 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 643,036 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 645,690 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 649,841 | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 654,019 | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 658,230 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 662,456 | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 666,715 | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 671,002 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 675,322 | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 679,657 | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 684,027 | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 691,539 | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 700,790 | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 710,140 | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 719,628 | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 729,242 | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 738,998 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 748,858 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 758,863 | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 767,207 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 773,811 | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 780,454 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 788,367 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 797,599 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 806,951 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 818,478 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 832,344 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 847,482 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 863,994 | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 880,780 | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 897,916 | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 913,306 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 926,833 | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 940,522 | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 954,433 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 968,549 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 982,894 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 997,451 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 1.01 million | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 1.03 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 1.04 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.06 million | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 1.07 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 1.09 million | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 1.10 million | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 1.12 million | +1.3% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 1.12 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.80 million, 62% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Norway's 1.12 million is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.41 million, 79% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 607,271 | 578,044 | 636,430 | 10 |
| 1970s | 644,153 | 643,137 | 645,250 | 10 |
| 1980s | 660,597 | 643,036 | 679,657 | 10 |
| 1990s | 724,929 | 684,027 | 767,207 | 10 |
| 2000s | 819,026 | 773,811 | 880,780 | 10 |
| 2010s | 962,088 | 897,916 | 1.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.08 million | 1.04 million | 1.12 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 120 Kyrgyzstan 1.15 million compare
- 121 El Salvador 1.13 million compare
- 122 Nicaragua 1.12 million compare
- 124 Armenia 1.10 million compare
- 125 Georgia 1.09 million compare
- 126 Tajikistan 1.04 million compare
More urban development data for Norway
- Population in the largest city 23.8% (2025)
- Population density 15.15 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1988 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.12 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 2.98 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.95 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 250.46 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Norway?
- Population in largest city in Norway was 1.12 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 1.12 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 578,044 in 1960.
- How does Norway rank for population in largest city?
- Norway ranks 123rd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.